Your Healthy Chinese Food Cheat Sheet

The Best Low-Calorie Chinese Food Isn't Always Obvious

Even some healthy-sounding options can set you back 1,000+ calories. Here, the five dishes to pick and the five to skip. (Calorie counts are per dish, not per serving, and are approximate due to restaurant variations.)

Photo: Sergey Mironov/Shutterstock

Don't Order: Vegetable Lo Mein

Veggies are always a good idea, but here they don't outweigh the huge mound of noodles, which weigh in at 200 calories per cup. (And that's without sauce!) A dish of lo mein can have upwards of 900 calories, which mostly come from refined carbs. (These 12 spiralized veggie recipes are so much healthier.)

Order This: Wonton Soup

This starter has just around 100 calories, and you still get to enjoy a few dumplings. Plus, it may be more filling: Several studies have shown that having soup before a meal helps you eat less overall. Or make your own healthy soup that will keep you satisfied.

Don't Order: Szechuan Shrimp

Stir-fried shrimp and vegetables in a spicy sauce seems like a guilt-free pick, but the sauce is often oily, meaning your order racks up around 700 calories. Try some citrus shrimp lettuce cups instead.

Order This: Beef with Broccoli

It's hard to find a low-cal beef option—and with 900 calories per platter, this is definitely one you want to share. On the plus side, you're getting a hefty dose of one of the most nutritious veggies on the planet. (Broccoli can even help you beat anxiety!)